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NFL: Week 12 picks

The playoff push heats up as action enters week 12, and we’ve got a lot more great games this week.

98-63 after 11 weeks. Here are my next batch of picks. It’s the Panthers and Steelers on their bye this week.

Thursday Night Football

Chiefs @ Raiders: It’s not a good game, but we have an AFC West match-up to start week 12. The Chiefs are feeling pretty good about themselves as they are tied for the division lead with the Broncos. The Raiders are… well… the Raiders. Their march to history continues.KANSAS CITY WINS

Sunday 1PM Games

Browns @ Falcons: Atlanta is somehow leading the NFC South despite a 6-game losing streak this season. Cleveland is still in the playoff conversatgion, but hurt themselves with a loss against Houston a week ago. I like what Cleveland does better than Atlanta. THey are more consistent on both sides of the ball. So despite this being a home game for the Falcons, give me the Browns on the road. CLEVELAND WINS

Titans @ Eagles: Philly is coming off an ugly road loss to the Packers, while the Titans are coming off a home loss to the Steelers. Mark Sanchez has been okay filling in for Nick Foles, but needs more from the run game. I think Tennessee is a good remedy for their ills, so give me the home team in this one.PHILADELPHIA WINS

Lions @ Patriots: What a great early match-up. The Pats have rebounded from a slow start to being one of the two, three best teams in the league. The Lions have cooled off a bit after a slow start, specifically on offense. Detroit will need their top rated defense on the road to slow down the Pats, and they very may well do so. But I still like the Pats in a close one at home. NEW ENGLAND WINS

Packers @ Vikings: The Packers are hot… at home. They’ve got a lot of games left on the road and have been a different team away from the Frozen Tundra where they look unbeatable. Minnesota has a good season without Adrian Peterson in the back field, and starting a rookie QB in Teddy Bridgewater for the majority of the season. They’re home so Minnesota won’t go quietly, but I can’t pick against MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers here. GREEN BAY WINS

Jaguars @ Colts: The Jaguars are just looking to the draft and the off-season at this point, while the Colts look to rebound off a blowout loss to the Pats in week 11. Andrew Luck is having a fantastic season, but needs more out of the run game, which was hurt this week when Ahmad Bradshaw was placed on IR. But with seeding to play for, I expect Indianapolis to have a fairly easy time with Jacksonville at home. INDIANAPOLIS WINS

Bengals @ Texans: Cincinnati is lucky to still hold a lead, however slim, in the AFC North. But they can’t have any more let downs, even against a pretty good team like they play this week. JJ Watt is keeping Houston in the conversation and with this game being in Texans territory, the Bengals have their work cut out for them, though I do like them to get a big road win. CINCINNATI WINS

Jets @ Bills: It’s a big game for the Bills, but this isn’t even happening when it’s supposed to! Crazy snowfall in Buffalo has forced the game to be moved to Monday… in Detroit! I like the possible playoff team even after the Jets finally picked up a win before their bye. The run game for the Bills finds ways to get the job done even with injuries, and Sammy Watkins has been one of the most impressive rookies in the league. BUFFALO WINS

Buccaneers @ Bears: This is maybe the worst game of the week. Both teams are bad despite many thinking both would challenge for the playoffs. The Bucs don’t do anything well except when they decide to throw the ball in the direction of rookie standout Mike Evans. As for Chicago, they finally snapped a long losing streak last week against the Vikings, but even that one wasn’t super impressive. Alshon Jeffery is questionable for the Bears, but they have better offensive weapons even without him than Tampa Bay, so I think they pick up a 2nd straight victory. CHICAGO WINS

Sunday 4/4:25PM Games

Cardinals @ Seahawks:How big is this game? An Arizona win goes a long way to locking up the NFC West, and makes the Cardinal the first team in the NFL to get to 10 wins. A Seahawks win keeps the door in the division open, and keeps pressure on teams like the 49ers, Cowboys and Packers for a Wild Card spot. Going straight off those reasons, you’d say Seattle needs this game way more than Arizona. But the Seahawks are the defending champs and know what it takes to put a run together. The Cardinals have been around the playoff picture of a few years now, but with a young QB at the helm, this win would do huge things for their confidence. Arizona has been consistently good and don’t have any off-the-field issues clouding things. So I’m taking a chance with the red birds in 12 man territory. ARIZONA WINS

Rams @ Chargers: St Louis has made it tough on most opponents this season, despite having a tough schedule and losing Sam Bradford in the preseason. I mean look at the Rams wins over Seahawks, 49ers and the Broncos last week. As for the Chargers, they finally got a win after a rough stretch. I think they build off that and keep pressure on the top heavy AFC West. SAN DIEGO WINS

Dolphins @ Broncos: This is a huge game with playoff implications. Miami took a big step a week ago with a win over the Bills to break a tie with them, while Denver took a big step back against the Rams. I like what the Dolphins have done all year, but I can’t see Peyton Manning having a second straight bad game, and the Broncos are so much better at home. DENVER WINS

Redskins @ Niners: Like many slow starters, the 49ers have rebounded and fought their way back into the playoff hunt. Washington continues to struggle and have questions about RGIII. So give me the home team to stay on pace in the West. SAN FRANCISCO WINS

Sunday Night Football

Cowboys @ Giants: Every-time questions have surfaced abut Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin, the Giants have rebounded and went on long runs. They’d have to win out and hope for a lot of help for that to happen this year, but with many of their remaining games at home, and a softer schedule added to games with the Eagles and this week’s opponent, never say never. But they have to start with a win over the Boys. The defense has to find a way to stop DeMarco Murray, who’s rested after their bye. And Manning needs to look like the guy from the 49ers game that drove down the field like no one was trying to stop them in their opening drive, and not the guy who ended up with 5 interceptions. Something that could help is getting Rashad Jennings going in his second game back. I keep going on faith and I’m taking another big leap taking the G-men here in week 12. NEW YORK WINS

Monday Night Football

Ravens @ Saints: Both teams need this game big-time. Baltimore is playing in the most competitive division in football, with all teams with at least 6 wins through 11 weeks. New Orleans is surprisingly in the worst division, with no teams over .500. and they find themselves behind the Falcons, a team that lost 6 straight at one point this season. So while I think the Ravens are a better overall team, I think Drew Brees and company find a way at home to turn things around. NEW ORLEANS WINS